Brian McKenzie was born and raised in St. Catherines, Ontario and played Junior A in his hometown with the Blackhawks for three years from 1968 to 1971. By his final year he had developed into a strong offensive force with the team, scoring 39 goals and 124 points, second in team scoring to Marcel Dionne's 143 points.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected McKenzie in the second round, 18th overall in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. In his rookie year he spent 66 games in the AHL with Hershey but was used by the Penguins for six games where he tallied a goal and an assist.

After enduring two more years in the minors it became clear to McKenzie he was not in the future plans of the Penguins. The opportunity arose to join the WHA and he accepted a contract from the Edmonton Oilers after being selected by the team in the 1973 Professional Player Draft. McKenkie dressed for 78 games with Edmonton that year, netting 18 goals and 38 points. With a decent offensive output, the Oiler organization had expected he'd have finished higher than ninth in team scoring. The Oilers left him unprotected in the 1974 WHA Expansion Draft and he was picked up by the Indianapolis Racers. He played just nine games with Indianapolis and spent the final three years of his hockey playing days in the minors, retiring in 1978.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1967-68

Stamford Steamers

OHA-B

1968-69

St. Catharines Black Hawks

OHA-Jr.

54

10

21

31

70

18

5

5

10

29

1969-70

St. Catharines Black Hawks

OHA-Jr.

53

17

41

58

128

10

3

4

7

20

1970-71

St. Catharines Black Hawks

OHA-Jr.

60

39

85

124

108

15

3

17

20

10

1971-72

Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL

6

1

1

2

4

-2

1971-72

Hershey Bears

AHL

66

15

13

28

92

4

0

0

0

0

1972-73

Hershey Bears

AHL

3

0

2

2

16

1972-73

Omaha Knights

CHL

64

16

36

52

71

9

5

4

9

28

1973-74

Edmonton Oilers

WHA

78

18

20

38

66

5

0

1

1

0

1974-75

Mohawk Valley Comets

NAPro

55

28

37

65

37

1974-75

Indianapolis Racers

WHA

9

1

0

1

6

1975-76

Mohawk Valley Comets

NAPro

20

10

14

24

24

1975-76

Toledo Goaldiggers

IHL

42

12

19

31

64

4

2

3

5

2

1976-77

Toledo Goaldiggers

IHL

77

32

58

90

85

15

9

5

14

10

1977-78

Toledo Goaldiggers

IHL

2

0

0

0

0

1977-78

Milwaukee Admirals

IHL

15

2

9

11

18

NHL Totals

6

1

1

2

4

Selected by Ontario-Ottawa (WHA) in 1972 WHA General Player Draft, February 12, 1972. Traded to Atlanta by Pittsburgh for cash, October, 1972. Selected by Edmonton (WHA) in 1973 WHA Professional Player Draft, May, 1973. Claimed by Indianapolis (WHA) from Edmonton (WHA) in 1974 WHA Expansion Draft, May, 1974. Signed as a free agent by Toledo (IHL), December, 1975.